David Young labeled tall case clock. Hopkinton, New Hampshire.

This is a very good example of a popular case form made in the Concord region of New Hampshire. This fine maple case retains the Joiner’s Label. It reads, “Made by David Young, Joiner, Hopkinton, New Hampshire.” This label is pasted to the backboard and is located inside the case. Printed labels by New Hampshire craftsman of this period are very difficult to find. It is easy to speculate that a percentage of these types of applied labels have been lost due to neglect, quality of the adhesive used or even in some instances, wear. This label has been found on clocks that have had their dials signed by Levi & Able Hutchins and Timothy Chandler. Young’s name appears in Edmund Currier’s account books as having provided him with at least 10 cases.

This fine example is formatted in the traditional woods and proportions that one would expected from the Concord, New Hampshire region circa 1795. This case stands proudly on applied bracket feet. They are applied to the bottom of the case as part of a double step molding. The waist section is long and is fitted with a large rectangular shaped waist door. Through this one can gain access to the original tin can weights an pendulum. The bonnet can be easily described as a swans neck form. This example is better shaped than most. The moldings are not as heavily formed and the arches have more vertical height than the vast majority of the typical Concord case styles. The rosettes are finely carved in a pinwheel pattern. The finial plinths support the three brass finials. The bonnet columns are turned smooth and mounted into brass capitals. The bonnet door is an arched form and is fitted with glass. The iron dial is painted. It is not signed. The time ring is formatted in Roman numeral hour markers. Arabic numerals are used as the five minute markers. This dial also displays the date of the month calendar and the seconds on subsidiary dials. The movement is constructed in brass. The teeth in the gear trains are deeply cut. It is designed to run eight days on a full wind and is weight driven. This clock strikes the hours on a cast iron bell. It is good quality.

This clock stands a modest 7 feet 4 inches tall and was made circa 1795. It is inventory number 25211.

About David Young

It is reported that David Young was most likely born on July 13, 1746 in Kingston, New Hampshire. In 1773 he married Sarah Eastman of Concord. Together they had two children. He may have been in Hopkington, New Hampshire as soon as 1776. By 1800, he is taxed for stock and trade in that town. In 1801 he is listed as a âcabinetmaker.â and is also described as a joiner in numerous transactions. The Hopkinton Baptist Church records his death on December 10, 1836. We definitively know that Young made cases for Levi and Able Hutchins of Concord, Timothy Chandler of Concord and Edmund Currier of Hopkinton. It is interesting to note that the Town of Hopkington, in the early 1800âs, was visited daily by a stage. It was located in a direct line of travel between Boston and Montreal. The town steadily grew until the 1830âs.